Registration for the upcoming N.A. Go Convention is nearing 100, reports organizer Edward Zhang. The week-long event February 8-17 spans two weekends, beginning in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ (2/8-12) and then moving to Arlington, VA (2/13-17); click here for the full schedule. Organizers are welcoming daytrippers by rewarding 3-win and 4-win players, and Zhang says that with $3,170 in cash prizes, plus trophies, books, convention certificates, and rank certificates, “everyone will win something!” Those “who can only make it one day, Saturday or Sunday, may see our event as a traditional one-day-four-round tournament, with a possibility of fifth and sixth rounds in Blitz or Pair Go at your discretion” adds Zhang. The pre-registration deadline for reduced rates has been extended to January 20. “Special thanks to Zhimin Zhang, president of Bei Dou Xing restaurant franchise in Hebei, China, for donating part of the cash prize pool,” Zhang adds. Transportation is being arranged for players traveling from New York to Parsippany; sign up here and “If there are enough requests, we will schedule a shuttle bus to pick up and drop off,” says Zhang.
American Go E-Journal » Other
NA Go Convention Registration Nears 100; Daytrippers Welcomed
Friday January 18, 2013
China Fields Strong Players at N.A. Go Convention
Sunday January 6, 2013
The N.A. Go Convention next month is attracting players from as far away as China, reports organizer Edward Zhang. “At least half a dozen Chinese players with strengths equivalent to AGA 6 dan and higher have registered in the past week,” says Zhang. They include Ruxu Cao (right), who won third place in the 2011 World Mind Sports Games amateur division, and Zhiyao Li, Heilongjiang Province Youth Go champion in 2004 and 2007. Click here to see who’s coming. Team spirit is also a big part of the Convention, which uses a “team score” measure similar to the Cotsen Open’s, in which individual player wins contribute to their team’s overall score as they compete for a $1,000 team prize in addition to individual awards and prizes. “Players don’t need to be all strong players, and they just need to do well in their own divisions,” Zhang explains. Though most teams will likely be made up of players from the same area/city, that’s not required. “All you need to do now is to find seven players and get them pre-registered, “ added Zhang. “You can come up with a team name later.”